Food & Restaurant franchises: costs, fees and investment
Short answer: Across 1213 brands in the SelectFranchiseList database (compiled October 2026), the median minimum initial investment is $297,082 and the median starting franchise fee is $35,000. The lowest starting investment in this group is Bento Sushi at $2,600.
Food and restaurant franchises include quick-service, fast-casual, full-service, coffee, dessert and bakery concepts. They usually carry the highest build-out and equipment costs in Item 7 and depend on hourly staff and long opening hours.
What do franchises in this group cost?
Franchises in this group have a median minimum investment of $297,082, a median starting franchise fee of $35,000 and a median liquid cash requirement of $80,000, calculated from 1213 brands in the SelectFranchiseList database. Medians use the low end of each brand's reported range.
Which franchises are on the list?
The table sorts 1,213 franchises from the lowest to the highest starting investment, 100 per page. This page shows brands 301 to 400.
| Franchise | Franchise fee | Total investment | Min. cash | US units |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Baked Bear | $28,000 to $35,000 | $171,239 to $716,030 | $60,000 | 25 |
| ClusterTruck Kitchen | $50,000 | $171,998 to $313,834 | $40,000 | 5 |
| Yi Fang Taiwan Fruit Tea | $60,000 | $172,000 to $269,000 | $40,000 | 12 |
| Freshii Restaurant | $30,000 | $172,500 to $641,000 | $60,000 | 52 |
| Supreme Sandwich | $35,000 | $172,500 to $185,250 | $35,000 | N/R |
| Great Steak | $14,000 to $30,000 | $172,900 to $662,850 | $60,000 | 24 |
| Boba Cucue | $40,000 | $173,450 to $309,250 | $40,000 | 4 |
| Sombrero Mexican Food | $30,000 | $173,800 to $1,207,300 | $85,000 | 17 |
| Rice King | $13,000 | $174,000 to $382,000 | $45,000 | 11 |
| Boardwalk Fries | $30,000 | $174,500 to $626,000 | $55,000 | 10 |
| Doughnuttery | $30,000 | $175,400 to $321,700 | $40,000 | 5 |
| Potato Corner | $30,000 | $176,000 to $596,000 | $55,000 | 35 |
| Juicy Burgers | $50,000 | $176,600 to $310,500 | $40,000 | 11 |
| World of Sourdough | $49,500 | $177,350 to $449,000 | $50,000 | 82 |
| Pure Green | $40,000 | $177,450 to $493,900 | $50,000 | 51 |
| Papa Ray's | $30,000 | $178,230 to $380,330 | $45,000 | 5 |
| Kona Ice | $15,000 | $178,856 to $226,841 | $40,000 | 1,820 |
| Wok Box Fresh Asian Kitchen | $25,000 | $179,700 to $426,200 | $50,000 | N/R |
| Repicci's Italian Ice Gelato | $36,000 | $180,700 to $195,650 | $35,000 | 47 |
| BP Smokehouse | $40,000 | $181,150 to $282,000 | $40,000 | N/R |
| Seattle's Best Coffee | $30,000 | $181,835 to $445,035 | $50,000 | N/R |
| Jersey Mike's | $18,500 | $181,903 to $1,413,592 | $100,000 | 2,989 |
| CoCoHoDo | $35,000 | $182,500 to $300,000 | $40,000 | N/R |
| Submarina California Subs | $10,000 to $15,000 | $182,500 to $370,250 | $45,000 | 19 |
| Jazen Tea | $10,000 | $182,600 to $389,930 | $45,000 | N/R |
| Wetzel's Pretzels | $20,000 to $40,000 | $183,000 to $712,450 | $65,000 | 422 |
| Fat Shack | $35,000 | $183,250 to $487,600 | $50,000 | 29 |
| Kisses From Italy | $35,000 | $183,900 to $691,000 | $60,000 | 3 |
| Doc Popcorn | $15,000 | $184,500 to $413,550 | $50,000 | 79 |
| Gong Cha | $34,500 | $184,500 to $627,060 | $60,000 | 229 |
| POKEMOTO | $30,000 | $184,500 to $378,400 | $45,000 | 50 |
| CrunCheese Korean Hot Dog | $40,000 | $185,000 to $652,500 | $60,000 | 16 |
| Sandella's | $25,000 | $185,000 to $305,000 | $45,000 | N/R |
| Chop'd | $24,900 | $186,900 to $292,200 | $45,000 | 2 |
| Fish Bone | $50,000 | $187,000 to $319,000 | $45,000 | 1 |
| Cannoli Kitchen Pizza | $29,500 to $39,500 | $187,100 to $318,450 | $45,000 | 6 |
| Dazbog Coffee | $25,000 to $45,000 | $187,300 to $396,800 | $50,000 | N/R |
| Muscle Maker Grill | $35,000 | $187,500 to $454,000 | $50,000 | N/R |
| Poki Bowl | $45,000 | $187,750 to $423,000 | $50,000 | 17 |
| Gfg Bakery Cafe | $25,000 to $40,000 | $188,100 to $1,314,000 | $95,000 | 8 |
| Press Waffle Co. | $35,000 | $188,350 to $497,300 | $55,000 | 8 |
| Stricklands | $25,000 | $188,500 to $315,000 | $45,000 | 4 |
| Fuzziwig's Candy Factory | $20,000 to $30,000 | $189,000 to $363,350 | $45,000 | 35 |
| NuYo | $40,000 | $189,000 to $441,000 | $50,000 | 5 |
| Everbowl | $39,750 | $189,300 to $370,850 | $45,000 | 91 |
| DonutNV | $59,500 | $189,580 to $272,900 | $40,000 | 145 |
| Elbows Mac N' Cheese | $30,000 | $190,100 to $954,800 | $75,000 | 4 |
| Romeo's Pizza | $30,000 | $190,800 to $640,500 | $60,000 | 43 |
| Daboba | $48,000 | $191,675 to $625,175 | $60,000 | N/R |
| Humble Donuts Co. | $25,000 | $192,627 to $343,969 | $45,000 | 3 |
| BITTY & BEAU'S COFFEE | $50,000 | $192,800 to $270,500 | $40,000 | 10 |
| Lennys Grill & Subs | $20,000 to $25,000 | $192,844 to $431,326 | $50,000 | 87 |
| BGR Burgers | $40,000 | $193,000 to $587,000 | $60,000 | 21 |
| LARKS | $40,000 | $193,500 to $651,200 | $60,000 | 3 |
| Jerk King | $30,000 | $194,400 to $324,275 | $45,000 | 1 |
| Nature's Table | $30,000 | $194,600 to $464,100 | $50,000 | 49 |
| Burgerim | $40,000 to $70,000 | $194,700 to $683,000 | $65,000 | 109 |
| Tim Ho Wan | $86,009 | $195,000 to $291,500 | $45,000 | 6 |
| Mr Gatti's delco | $25,000 | $195,087 to $604,177 | $60,000 | 24 |
| Ding Tea | $30,000 | $195,240 to $324,170 | $45,000 | 135 |
| Sourdough and Co | $25,000 to $35,000 | $196,500 to $284,500 | $45,000 | 2 |
| Beef Jerky Experience | $49,900 | $196,750 to $407,400 | $50,000 | 79 |
| GREEN + THE GRAIN | $50,000 | $196,800 to $1,931,000 | $125,000 | 6 |
| Captain Tony's Pizza | $10,000 to $20,000 | $197,550 to $389,800 | $50,000 | 6 |
| Sidewalk Juice | $22,500 to $30,000 | $198,000 to $1,298,000 | $95,000 | 5 |
| Wings Over | $30,000 | $198,000 to $701,875 | $65,000 | 35 |
| Donut Distillery | $29,900 | $198,150 to $329,900 | $45,000 | 2 |
| Chocolate Bash | $45,000 | $198,400 to $380,000 | $50,000 | 11 |
| Erik's Delicafe | $20,000 | $198,500 to $406,600 | $50,000 | 27 |
| Hoodz | $5,990 to $59,900 | $199,038 to $244,307 | $40,000 | 136 |
| Ubatuba Açaí Bowls | $20,000 | $199,500 to $430,000 | $50,000 | 19 |
| Te'Amo | $40,000 | $199,750 to $409,800 | $50,000 | 9 |
| Rush Bowls | $39,000 | $200,000 to $547,000 | $55,000 | 53 |
| Pizza Guys | $25,000 | $200,100 to $424,050 | $50,000 | 82 |
| We Olive | $30,000 | $200,500 to $391,500 | $50,000 | N/R |
| Beard Papa's | $45,000 | $200,900 to $477,000 | $55,000 | 43 |
| Red Brick Pizza | $15,000 to $30,000 | $201,400 to $548,200 | $60,000 | 6 |
| Red's Savoy Pizza | $35,000 to $40,000 | $201,800 to $508,250 | $55,000 | 17 |
| Travelin' Tom's Coffee | $15,000 | $201,840 to $255,325 | $45,000 | 261 |
| Squeeze In | $40,000 | $201,893 to $517,120 | $55,000 | 12 |
| Matiki Island B.B.Q. | $35,000 | $201,950 to $318,700 | $45,000 | 3 |
| Honeymee | $35,000 | $202,500 to $397,000 | $50,000 | 7 |
| Slices | $30,000 | $202,700 to $435,500 | $50,000 | N/R |
| I Love Juice Bar | $25,000 | $202,860 to $372,805 | $50,000 | 45 |
| Parlay Cafe | $30,000 | $202,950 to $459,200 | $55,000 | 1 |
| GELATO-GO | $35,000 to $45,000 | $203,500 to $444,100 | $55,000 | 17 |
| Pizza Schmizza | $39,000 | $203,500 to $532,250 | $55,000 | 16 |
| Charleys Philly Steaks | $24,500 | $203,736 to $694,249 | $65,000 | 813 |
| Cookies by Design | $30,000 | $205,000 to $405,000 | $50,000 | 38 |
| HCK Hot Chicken Restaurant | $40,000 | $205,500 to $688,000 | $65,000 | 7 |
| Planet Smoothie | $12,000 to $25,000 | $205,650 to $478,500 | $55,000 | 154 |
| Bubbleology | $20,000 to $32,500 | $205,850 to $458,950 | $55,000 | 3 |
| Blue Margaritas | $29,900 | $206,600 to $371,900 | $50,000 | 3 |
| Pepe's Mexican Restaurant | $10,000 to $15,000 | $207,000 to $652,000 | $65,000 | 28 |
| La Salsa | $25,000 to $50,000 | $207,050 to $2,172,950 | $140,000 | N/R |
| Westside Pizza | $30,000 | $207,435 to $559,935 | $60,000 | 36 |
| Hummus Republic | $36,000 | $207,500 to $659,000 | $65,000 | 40 |
| Presotea | $70,000 | $208,200 to $457,000 | $55,000 | N/R |
| Vitality Bowls | $40,000 | $208,800 to $683,140 | $65,000 | 65 |
| Dickey's Barbecue Pit | $15,000 to $20,000 | $210,105 to $528,589 | $60,000 | 366 |
N/R = not reported.
How do you compare franchises from this list?
Compare franchises from this list by putting each brand's Item 5 fee, Item 6 ongoing fees and the high end of the Item 7 investment side by side, then checking Item 20 for closures and transfers. The guide to franchise costs explains each line, and the 8-step selection process shows the order of due diligence.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food & restaurant franchise cost?
Across 1213 brands in the SelectFranchiseList database (compiled October 2026), the median minimum initial investment is $297,082 and the median starting franchise fee is $35,000. The lowest starting investment in this group is Bento Sushi at $2,600.
How much cash do I need to buy a franchise in this group?
The median minimum liquid cash requirement in this group is $80,000. Franchisors set their own capital requirements, and lenders usually finance part of the total investment.
Are these figures guaranteed?
No. The figures come from franchise disclosure data and public listings and change with every annual FDD. Confirm fees in Items 5 and 6 and the investment in Item 7 of each brand's current FDD.
Other franchise industries
- Home Services franchises
- Fitness franchises
- Education & Children franchises
- Retail franchises
- Business Services franchises
- Other Franchise Businesses franchises
- Hotels & Travel franchises
- Healthcare & Senior Care franchises
- Beauty & Personal Care franchises
- Automotive franchises
- Real Estate franchises
- Pet franchises
Figures are compiled from franchise disclosure data and public listings as of October 2026 and may have changed. Brand names belong to their owners; listing does not imply endorsement. Not an offer to sell a franchise.